UK CONSUMER-RIGHTS TOOL

Overcharged by a locksmith? See how strong your case is.

Answer four short questions about what you were charged, what work was done, and how you paid. You will get a case-strength score, the exact steps to take under UK consumer-rights law, and a pre-filled complaint letter you can send to the locksmith today. Free, private, and it stays in your browser.
Question 1 of 4

Did you agree to a firm price before they started work?

Did you agree to a firm price before they started work?

Your answers stay in your browser. Nothing is sent to LockSafe, nothing is saved to an account.

Your rights when a UK locksmith overcharges you

If no firm price was agreed — section 51, Consumer Rights Act 2015

Where you and the trader did not agree a fixed price before the work started, only a reasonable price is payable. What is reasonable is a question of fact — published UK price guides are strong evidence of the range a court would treat as reasonable.

If you paid by credit card — section 75, Consumer Credit Act 1974

For any single card transaction between £100 and £30,000, your credit-card provider is jointly liable with the trader. That means you can claim the disputed amount from the card provider directly, and they will pursue the trader.

If you paid by debit card — chargeback

Chargeback is a voluntary scheme run by the card networks, not a statutory right — but banks widely honour it for clearly misrepresented services. Contact your bank as soon as possible, ideally within 120 days.

If the booking was made by phone or online — the 14-day cancellation right

Bookings not made in person at the trader's premises are usually distance contracts and carry a 14-day right to cancel — with exceptions for urgent services already performed at your express request. Ask the trader in writing whether they agree the right applies; if they refuse to say, Citizens Advice can advise.

Frequently asked questions

Can I refuse to pay a locksmith who overcharged me in the UK?+
If no firm price was agreed before the work started, section 51 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 says only a reasonable price is payable — you can refuse to pay the unreasonable portion. If a firm price was agreed, the trader cannot charge more than that without your written agreement to additional work. If you have already paid by credit card, section 75 lets your card provider claim the disputed amount back from the trader on your behalf.
What is a fair UK locksmith call-out fee in 2026?+
Published 2026 UK price guides (Checkatrade, Fantastic Services, MyBuilder) put a typical daytime call-out at £60 to £120, and an out-of-hours emergency call-out at £80 to £200. London and the South East sit at the top of those ranges. A simple lockout resolved by picking the lock (no damage) usually falls within £70 to £150 all in.
Should I contact Citizens Advice or Trading Standards first?+
Contact Citizens Advice first — helpline 0808 223 1133 (England and Wales), Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Citizens Advice records the complaint and passes it to Trading Standards where appropriate. Trading Standards do not normally take direct calls from consumers.
Does section 75 apply to locksmith charges?+
Yes, provided the amount you paid on a single credit-card transaction is between £100 and £30,000, and you paid the trader directly on that card. Section 75 makes the credit-card provider jointly liable with the trader for a breach of contract or misrepresentation, which covers being charged materially more than a fair or agreed price.
How much time do I have to dispute a locksmith invoice?+
There is no fixed deadline in general contract law, but disputes are strongest when raised in writing within days. If the booking was made by phone or online (not in person at the trader's premises) you may also have a 14-day cancellation right under the Consumer Contracts Regulations, subject to specific exceptions for urgent services already performed with your express request.
How do I prove I was overcharged?+
Save the original advert or Google listing you called, the invoice, the payment receipt, all messages (WhatsApp, SMS, email), photographs of the lock before and after, and a written note of exactly what the locksmith did. Compare the amount charged against published UK price guides for the specific work carried out — that comparison is the core of your case.

Sources and useful contacts

Related: before you call anyone next time, run the 60-second verification checklist — seven pre-arrival checks that expose rogue traders before they set foot at your door.

Or read the 8 red flags that mean a locksmith is a scam — each with a concrete 30-second check that catches the pattern before it costs you money.

Myth-buster: “Police approved” locksmith — a phrase that is a lie by definition in the UK.

If the labour line on your invoice is the specific problem, see fair labour time for a UK lockout — the minute-by-minute breakdown, plus the five padding tactics to look for.

If you paid on a credit card, go straight to Section 75 for a UK locksmith overcharge — the personalised claim letter builder lives there.

Sense-check the amount against average UK locksmith call-out fees for 2026 — tier-by-tier ranges with named cities so you know what materially-above looks like.

Next time, use a verified locksmith

LockSafe verifies every locksmith on the platform, shows the price before work begins, and records a timestamped PDF report of the whole job. If a price is ever changed on site, you have proof.

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